- 3 hours ago
Man Utd’s golden opportunity to land long-term target as Atleti put wanted man up for sale
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 20 Dec 2024 06:54 CST
- 3 min read
Manchester United will have the opportunity to land a transfer bargain in January if they revisit a player they sought to buy in the summer and who is being pushed out of his club.
Atletico Madrid are ready to wash their hands of left-back Reinildo, with Diego Simeone’s side seeking to sell the Mozambique international before his contract expires in the summer, according to Fichajes.
FootballTransfers had previously revealed that clubs in the Premier League have been watching Reinildo, and according to the source in Spain, Man Utd could be one of the teams that attempt to land the 30-year-old.
STATS
Reinildo Isnard Mandava
D (CL)
Atlético
Reinildo Isnard Mandava
D (CL)
Atlético
Fichajes states: “Although a deal did not materialise in the summer, it is possible that the Red Devils will resume their interest, which would represent an opportunity for Atletico to make a financial profit before the player becomes a free agent at the end of the season.”
Although Reinildo has played 18 times for Atleti this season, he has fallen out of favour in recent weeks, rarely starting since the beginning of October due to the outstanding performances of Javi Galan.
READ MORE: Who is Reinildo Mandava? The Atletico Madrid veteran liked by Man Utd
Reinildo to Man Utd: A stop-gap move
Reinildo has attributes that new Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim would admire. He is industrious and tenacious – and crucially in the left-back area he is durable. Although he suffered an ACL injury in February 2023, that is the only significant concern he has suffered in his whole career. Following that problem, he has a clean bill of health for more than a year.
On top of this, he is also a versatile player able to operate either as a wing-back or even on the left side of the centre of the defence.
United are thought to be looking for bargain additions in January due to a tight position with regards Financial Fair Play (FFP). Although Reinildo does not fit into the overall model that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking to employ at the club, allowances may be made in this case to smooth through a deal.
